Time for Akermanis to make a decision on his future

Robert Walls

IT WAS four years ago that Jason Akermanis' career ended at the Brisbane Lions. It was a sad but predictable finish. Aka had been a star with the Lions. He had played well in premiership teams, won a Brownlow Medal and thrilled fans with his speed, balance and class. Few footballers of any generation could sprint at top pace and regularly slot goals from the boundary line some 60 metres out. And he could do it with left or right boot, it didn't really matter.

But he had to go. His coach, Leigh Matthews, and the majority of senior players had lost faith in him. He had become too much of an individual in a team sport. They didn't know if they could trust him to keep matters in-house. His love of the spotlight, being the media darling, was taking precedence over his role of committed team footballer. So they cut him loose.

At the time you wondered whether another team would risk taking him on. It was the Western Bulldogs who took the punt. They were on the rise. In Rodney Eade's two years as coach he had taken the team from 14th to ninth to sixth. The Dogs offered Aka a three-year contract and immediately eyebrows were raised. Did they know what they were taking on?

The Dogs' thinking was that the then 30-year-old, with his incredible skills, would be able to get them over the line to win two or three close games a year they otherwise could have lost. The danger, of course, was whether the problem that caused his demise in Brisbane would surface in Melbourne.

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Aka's first season, 2007, was a disappointing one for player and club as the Bulldogs slipped to 13th. The next two years were much better. Aka played really well. He was durable, running out 49 of the possible 50 times, and averaged close to two goals a game. There's no doubt he helped to get his team home in several close encounters. But now the contract was over and both he and his team, that had fallen eight points short of playing in a grand final, had time to ponder the situation.

There is no doubt the Brownlow medallist fancies himself as a media performer, but there was not a flood of interest in his services. And the club was teased by the prospect of its small forward perhaps being able to squeeze out one more good season. So a fourth season on a much reduced wage was agreed to. By round six there was tension in the camp as both team and player struggled. Aka was not getting to enough contests, was not showing his breakaway speed, and was struggling to have an impact on the scoreboard. The new Bulldog forward structure that centred around Barry Hall was obviously not helping the veteran.

Things came to a head when Aka wrote a column about gay footballers. The problem was not just the content but also that he misled his club during the public fallout. So once again a club lost faith and trust in Akermanis. Consequently, the Bulldogs imposed a three-week media ban on him and dropped him from the team. Aka claimed he has played with injury this season, and now, after a three-week lay-off, is ready to resume on Sunday with Williamstown - the Dogs' VFL team.

Eade finds himself in a good situation. He holds the whip hand. His Dogs are starting to hit their straps, having won five of their past seven games. I'm sure his plans for the rest of the season don't much involve Aka. So if his man sulks in the VFL, so be it.

But if Aka plays well enough for Williamstown, eventually he will be promoted. If he is then able to come into the senior team and perform, it will be a bonus. In many respects the ball is now well and truly in the player's hands. He can work hard to find fitness and form, earn respect with his efforts and finish his career on a high. Or, he can whinge about playing with Williamstown, create unnecessary headlines and blame everyone except himself.

So, Aka has a lot of thinking to do. He should not want to finish his football career for the second time at a club where he is not wanted. Because as the years go by, it is a very nice thing to be welcomed back to a club that you have served.

And as far as his media career is concerned, it has to be in Melbourne, so he should be trying to win people over with his flying feet and not his mouth. There will be time for that later.

Can he do? I think he can, but he needs to make sure that he is not exploited by non-football people.

Aka's life as a footballer will be over in three months. It's up to him how he will be remembered.

8 comments so far

I would prefer to have a fit Aker playing up forward than Jonno who has become a bit of an actor, always looking for free kicks. But the truth is that our PM would eat them both. Bung Julia up forward with Bazza and we would be unbeatable.

Commenter

Ladder of Chill

Location

Julia's Hill

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 8:59AM

Well done Robert. Now tell us what you saw at the zoo? And once again, just tell us what we all saw, and don't include any interesting fresh insights or observations now. Stay within the 'bleeding obvious' parameters.

Commenter

Dr Psykick

Location

Sunshine

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 9:23AM

Tend to agree with Dr Psykick's comments - not exactly a thinkpeice Robert more of a summary of a series of already well documented events.
One wonders on the merits of straning your phalanges in tapping out such an article given that the football public are more than aware of the fork in the road that Acker has reached.

Commenter

Doola

Location

Nedlands

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 10:45AM

Acker once part of a great Lions team, Brownlow medalist gifted footballer.
Recruited by the Doggies to win a Premiership, hasn't happened and wont but I hope he can regain his spot finish, this year with some pride and bow out with grace.
Acker is certainly an individual and calls a spade a spade but in the closely knit enclave of the footy club bleating out the bleeding obvious and giving dohnuts when interviewed is the norm and that is certainly not the Acker way.
He's a 3 time Premiership player and Brownlow medalist and that's more than some who sit in the media could ever aspire to.
It's easier to criticise than praise for so many.

Commenter

Brendon

Location

Westmeadows

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 10:50AM

I'd rather an opinionated Jason Akermanis in the media than a non-jopurnalist like Robert Walls recycling the same tired old rubbish that's been said a hundred times before...

Commenter

Booka T

Location

The Bush Inn

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 11:52AM

Clubs seem to willing these days to simply do away with champions who still have a lot to offer either by way of on field leadership or off field mentoring roles.
Just look what happened when Richmond moved too hastily on champions such as Wayne Campbell, David Honeybun and David Bourke.

Commenter

Doola

Location

Nedlands

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 2:48PM

All Aker has to do is stop being such a show pony all the time - the problem is, it will never happen.

Commenter

show

Location

pony

Date and time

July 02, 2010, 8:51PM

Well Robert,
You are such a shining example to be telling anyone their time is up.
I've not supported any of the clubs Akermanis has played for; but, he is a champion and will be back playing AFL before too long. He still has a couple of good seasons left in him.
It is typical that anyone with your negativity would be inclined to write him off. But I think he will prove you wrong, just like every one else does.